tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70020201241683625722018-05-18T02:42:27.296-07:00Women's Earth AllianceWhen women thrive, communities and the environment thriveWEA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133886013164802104noreply@blogger.comBlogger238125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-8803077766805028242016-02-23T12:10:00.002-08:002016-02-23T12:17:29.846-08:00The Aftermath of Booming Oil and Fracking Industries: Acknowledging The Impacts on Women and Indigenous Groups.<div style="box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 40px; word-break: break-word;"><div style="box-sizing: content-box; line-height: normal; word-break: break-word;"><div style="box-sizing: content-box; line-height: normal; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div style="box-sizing: content-box; line-height: normal; word-break: break-word;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d4qqNcJMFJw/Vsy9Mxru-tI/AAAAAAAAAAM/FvWVPX1FrLw/s1600/08northdakota-web04-superJumbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d4qqNcJMFJw/Vsy9Mxru-tI/AAAAAAAAAAM/FvWVPX1FrLw/s400/08northdakota-web04-superJumbo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">The homes of oil field workers near Watford City, ND.&nbsp;</span></h4><h4><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo by&nbsp;<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Andrew Cullen for The New York Times.</span></span></h4></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />By some accounts, the oil boom in the Bakken region of North Dakota is slowing. According to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/08/us/built-up-by-oil-boom-north-dakota-now-has-an-emptier-feeling.html?_r=0" style="box-sizing: content-box; color: #007dbc; line-height: normal; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">this article in The New York Times</a>, "as oil prices have skidded to $30 a barrel, new drilling has dried up here, and the flood of wealth and workers is ebbing."</div><br />The article goes on to describe the ways that such a drastic change has impacted the area<span class="" style="box-sizing: content-box; line-height: normal;">—</span>from the debt North Dakota took on to build the infrastructure to support the influx of oil workers since 2008, to those same oil workers leaving the area for home or other jobs now that they've been laid off.</div>But the article is oddly silent on the impact this shift is having on women<span class="" style="box-sizing: content-box; line-height: normal;">—</span>Indigenous women especially<span class="" style="box-sizing: content-box; line-height: normal;">—</span>particularly as more and more information has become available in the last several years about the dangerous intersection of extractive industries like fracking in North Dakota, and the safety and health of women. What has the decrease in the largely male, largely transient, population meant for the protection of women? For their sexual and reproductive health? Furthermore, with profits falling and debt increasing across the state, what will happen to the services for those women who have already experienced environmental violence? What will happen to those shelters, safe houses and survivors programs?</div><div style="box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 40px; word-break: break-word;">In a country<span class="" style="box-sizing: content-box; line-height: normal;">—</span>and world<span class="" style="box-sizing: content-box; line-height: normal;">—</span>so heavily reliant on oil and gas, communities like those in the Bakken are built up with little preparation or protections in place during boom times, only to be allowed to later fall with little preparation or protections when industry can no longer profit largely enough in those territories. As we have seen in many industry-impacted areas in North America, Indigenous women are often those most impacted during these booms. How will women fair as that boom wanes?</div><div style="box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 40px; word-break: break-word;">Read the entire NY Times article&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/08/us/built-up-by-oil-boom-north-dakota-now-has-an-emptier-feeling.html?_r=0" style="box-sizing: content-box; color: #007dbc; line-height: normal; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>WEA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133886013164802104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-72064061080294067432015-12-30T13:00:00.000-08:002016-01-07T13:07:28.490-08:00WEA not alone<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zg47mAox_rU/Vo7SANwBqII/AAAAAAAAD1Y/6TBWNu0AAR8/s1600/olanike.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zg47mAox_rU/Vo7SANwBqII/AAAAAAAAD1Y/6TBWNu0AAR8/s400/olanike.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>“As a young child, barefoot women and girls carrying heavy containers of water on their heads, walking long distances under the searing sun were a common sight. The reality of this stayed with me, and I knew I would do something about it someday.”</i></div><br />Through the support and investment of our friends and partners, WEA has unlocked the future for leaders like Olanike Olugboji, a WEA founding mother, who participated in our first Women and Water Training in Kenya, and then returned to Nigeria with a clear vision and a strong network. Equipped with technical skills, entrepreneurship training, and seed funding, <b>Olanike launched her own NGO called WISE, which today has trained over 3,000 women in clean energy, safe water technologies, and entrepreneurship</b>. Her work has created refuge for Nigerian women, who risk rape or assault on the long walks to fetch water and firewood, as well as opportunity for women to create a livelihood and secure a future for their children.<br /><br />After joining WEA as a regional coordinator, Olanike linked with women around the world. She is not only a regional leader, but she has a global reach as well. Olanike is a correspondent with World Pulse, a recipient of numerous international awards, and a participant in several prestigious leadership trainings. In 2016, WEA will collaborate with Olanike and her team to train women in promoting and selling clean cookstoves, linking up with the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves in Nigeria. <i><b>(If a woman cooks breakfast, lunch and dinner over a wood fire, she suffers the equivalent of smoking between 3 and 20 packets of cigarettes a day. Over 120,000 Nigerian women die annually from inhalation of firewood smoke.)</b></i> Olanike's impact on the environment and on women’s well-being and livelihood has only just begun.<br /><br />Our community of supporter such as yourself are a vital part of WEA’s efforts to build alliances. As we embark on our 10th year, please join with the others in this global alliance to ensure WEA’s impact and our solid beginning to the next decade. We are just $2,000 from reaching our Year-End Campaign goal. Please know that <a href="http://track.namastelight.com/c/443/be2881f6c79cdc38b8c2b1f568e523164c6426db3755e946d006ceaf4390b5ff">a gift of $100, $50 or $20</a> makes a huge difference. Together, we can build the leadership of women who will create a future of balance, health, and peace for our world.Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-18692958491990114732015-12-24T08:30:00.000-08:002015-12-24T08:30:03.736-08:00Wishing you peace this holiday season<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Peace of Wild Things</span></b><br /><br />By Wendell Berry&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-auwuqECM1o0/VnhEYwLKXrI/AAAAAAAADvc/FjhkyAsaiv0/s1600/Clear%2BLake%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-auwuqECM1o0/VnhEYwLKXrI/AAAAAAAADvc/FjhkyAsaiv0/s400/Clear%2BLake%2B1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><i>When despair for the world grows in me<br />and I wake in the night at the least sound<br />in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,<br />I go and lie down where the wood drake<br />rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.<br />I come into the peace of wild things<br />who do not tax their lives with forethought<br />of grief. I come into the presence of still water.<br />And I feel above me the day-blind stars<br />waiting with their light. For a time<br />I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.</i></div><br />As we gather together with friends and family to celebrate the season of peace and joy, we hope that you offer this point for reflection and wish you all the peace of the natural world. Let us remember the tranquility that can be found all around us and give thanks. As we think about this beautiful poem, may contemplate the effect that the environment has on us as well as the effect we have on it, and the value of this relationship.<br /><br />Happy Holidays from the WEA family to yours!Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-78226475255750156012015-12-17T09:35:00.001-08:002015-12-17T09:35:37.165-08:00Women Climate Warriors<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"I’ve got a 25-year-old son named Abe. I’ve got a 20-year-old daughter named Jessie. I would throw myself in front of a bus if it was coming at them. We all need to throw ourselves in front of this bus called climate change."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="st">— Mindy Lubber, one of Vogue's 13 Climate Warriors</span>&nbsp;</div><br />Have you seen the absolutely stunning piece <a href="http://www.vogue.com/projects/13373340/climate-change-summit-women-cop21-warriors-global-warming/" target="_blank">VOGUE</a> published just as COP21 was getting underway? The article<span class="st">—</span>and the profoundly beautiful photographs by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin that accompanied it<span class="st">—</span>feature 13 of the formidable women leading the way on climate action.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vogue.com/projects/13373340/climate-change-summit-women-cop21-warriors-global-warming/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YTyfIZmGDCg/VnLxFveT4YI/AAAAAAAADuc/93tY8PmT3E0/s400/11climate-change-portraits.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.vogue.com/projects/13373340/climate-change-summit-women-cop21-warriors-global-warming/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Yeampierre. Photo: Vogue</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Meet all 13 of these fierce women by checking out the full article <a href="http://www.vogue.com/projects/13373340/climate-change-summit-women-cop21-warriors-global-warming/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />While we so deeply respect these women climate warriors and all they do, we also recognize that there are many more women living on the frontlines of climate change and taking action to protect their communities.&nbsp; We are humbled and honored to support a number of these women and communities.Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-73792042638652457022015-12-14T09:49:00.000-08:002015-12-14T09:49:32.108-08:00An Anthem of Climate Action and Hope<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-3b079bcb-a18d-8fd6-2ad9-05cfc81422bd" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This inspirational music video from <a href="http://1millionwomen.nationbuilder.com/voice" target="_blank">1 Million Women</a>, calling women from around the world to speak up about climate change and hope, is out-of-this-world amazing!</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As we all look over the <a href="http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2015/cop21/eng/l09.pdf" target="_blank">Paris Agreement</a>, adopted just two days ago at COP21, and consider the message of hope <i>it </i>brings, this anthem is being spread around the world, creating sparks and starting discussions about how climate policies can be created and enhanced</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="st">—</span>a critical message as countries decide whether to ratify the Agreement.</span></div><div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-3b079bcb-a18d-8fd6-2ad9-05cfc81422bd" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="290" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7-3FuApUbnc" width="535"></iframe></center></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You can read more about 1 Million Women’s anthem and movement</span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"> <a href="http://1millionwomen.nationbuilder.com/voice" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-88715539190192008152015-12-11T10:05:00.000-08:002015-12-11T10:05:25.549-08:00[In the News] The First Woman Of Women: How Melinda Gates Became The World's Most Powerful Advocate For Women And GirlsWe're loving <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinehoward/2015/11/23/the-first-woman-of-women-how-melinda-gates-became-the-worlds-most-powerful-advocate-for-women-and-girls/" target="_blank">this look</a> at the life and work of Melinda Gates, co-founder and co-chair of the <a href="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation</a>, and a champion for the health and rights of women and girls.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--465lvlt6kU/VmsOm8HLa8I/AAAAAAAADt8/IpHFndpHg3U/s1600/1120_feature-melinda-gates_1200x675-1200x675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--465lvlt6kU/VmsOm8HLa8I/AAAAAAAADt8/IpHFndpHg3U/s400/1120_feature-melinda-gates_1200x675-1200x675.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption">Photo: Forbes</td></tr></tbody></table><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: left;"><i>For the first decade and a half of its existence the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation deployed its remarkable scale toward eradicating polio and malaria, and experimentation in education issues. But over the past few years Melinda Gates has embraced having her name on the letterhead of the largest-ever charitable foundation, along with the influence that comes with that. She has become the most powerful person on the planet whose singular focus is women and girls...</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>"When you get women in roles of leadership, we make things happen,” Gates says. “It takes us using our voice, and it also takes us making investments, huge investments, in women and girls.” </i></div></blockquote>Melinda Gates has stepped up to use her voice and platform, as well as make those huge, critical investments. We are so inspired by the message this sends about the importance and global impact of investing in the leadership of women and girls.<br /><br />It's through women leaders like these, believing in the women leaders on the ground, that we can change the world.<br /><br />Read the <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinehoward/2015/11/23/the-first-woman-of-women-how-melinda-gates-became-the-worlds-most-powerful-advocate-for-women-and-girls/" target="_blank">full article</a> on Forbes.Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-13687137491716704072015-12-03T09:43:00.001-08:002015-12-03T09:50:09.517-08:00 Women are the victims of climate change – and the keys to climate action Are you keeping an eye on the goings on at COP21 in Paris?&nbsp; We are, and we're especially interested to see if/how a gendered perspective is incorporated into any (and, hopefully, every!) discussions and mechanisms for moving forward on climate action in a sustainable way.<br /><br />For more of our take on COP21, read our recent post <a href="http://womensearthalliance.blogspot.com/2015/11/cop21-time-to-put-cap-on-global-gender.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and for an even deeper look at why a gendered lens is so integral to developing effective solutions around climate change, check out <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/01/women-victims-climate-change-keys-climate-action" target="_blank">this article from The Guardian</a>.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/01/women-victims-climate-change-keys-climate-action" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4-yQV59XWFQ/VmB-D-NDYbI/AAAAAAAADqE/oX3fcVvy1y0/s400/cop21women.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/01/women-victims-climate-change-keys-climate-action" target="_blank">Photo: The Guardian</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>"As the nations of the world meet in Paris to address climate change, it is critical that women play a central role in these historic negotiations. Gender equality is central to effective climate action. The world cannot afford to neglect the needs of half the world’s population, nor ignore their talents and potential in innovating solutions...</i><br /><br /><i>The <a class=" u-underline" data-component="in-body-link" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://giwps.georgetown.edu/">Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security</a> recently released a <a class=" u-underline" data-component="in-body-link" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://giwps.georgetown.edu/sites/giwps/files/Women%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf">new study</a> that examines climate change as a human rights imperative, global security threat and a pervasive strain on economic stability. The report highlights how women bear severe gendered impacts of climate change – including adverse health, economic, social and physical consequences – but systematically lack equal representation in decision-making.&nbsp;</i><br /><br /><i>The report also demonstrates – through a plethora of examples from around the world – that women are critical agents of change. Despite their vulnerabilities, women contribute to both adaptation and mitigation efforts in many parts of the world through creative, localized solutions. Numerous mediating institutions are working to provide women with opportunities to create their own sustainable businesses that also serve to reduce the global threat of climate change" </i></blockquote>We'd love to hear what you think about COP21!Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-32895273407762258082015-11-30T09:54:00.000-08:002015-11-30T09:54:27.616-08:00COP21: Time to Put a Cap on Global Gender Inequality<i>By: Katie Douglas, WEA Intern</i> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-15oKMMNwUJ4/VlyNDL4GSjI/AAAAAAAADpk/69sRC8dm5SE/s1600/COP21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-15oKMMNwUJ4/VlyNDL4GSjI/AAAAAAAADpk/69sRC8dm5SE/s400/COP21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>“I will ensure this… the climate battle must be fought for, and with, women,” stated Laurent Fabius, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development. These words are Fabius’ bold commitment for the 21st session of the <a href="http://www.cop21paris.org/">Conference of Parties</a> (COP) which starts today in Paris, over which he will preside as President. For WEA and our global allies, his declaration is a real opportunity for world leaders to highlight and recommit themselves to addressing the intersectional relationship of women and the environment on an international level. The only question is whether Fabius and other decision-makers have the gumption to follow through on such promises made months ago? Or will COP21 be yet another international meeting that renders gender equality irrelevant to climate change, and creates an environmental protocol without the mechanisms to enforce it?<br /><br />COP began as an international response to climate change with the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 and a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale. COP21 represents a chance for representatives from over 190 countries to cooperatively create universal agreements, all in the aim of keeping our climate below 2°C or 3.6°F. The U.S., the European Union., Russia, China, and India will largely negotiate the next 50 year agenda, as they are all among the highest emitters of greenhouse gases. However, in the past these powerhouse countries have failed to prioritize the critical role of and impacts on women in the global environmental movement.<br /><br />One of the many reasons women are so incredibly impacted by the effects of climate change is due to the vital role they play in securing the natural resources that their families depend upon for survival, such as clean water, food, and fuel. Around 70% of women work in agriculture in low-income food-deficit countries, though generally women own less than 10% of the land. These women are already forced to mitigate the effects of climate change that drive soil erosion, drought, and food scarcity, and through traditional methods and knowledge these women are able to adapt successfully. The <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/jul/03/we-need-to-grow-50-more-food-yet-agriculture-causes-climate-change-how-do-we-get-out-of-this-bind">2014 Copenhagen Consensus</a> stated that agriculture research is the single most effective way to invest in fighting malnourishment. Combine this with the fact that agriculture is one of the biggest contributors to pollution, and the answer is straightforward: Invest in women as keepers of traditional knowledge and stewards of natural resources, provide them with the support and networks necessary to develop their community-based, sustainable solutions, and witness how the ripple of their efforts become a wave of transformation.<br /><br />But one of the biggest challenges in constructing an effective international protocol is designing the mechanisms to enforce it. Past COPs have only created legally non-binding frameworks for treaty negotiations, such as the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. So long as countries can opt out of ratifying treaties that might actually impact their emission levels, there seems little prospect for any sort of enforcement on pollutant control. However, at COP21 there is hope for change as the conference’s main goal is to, for the first time, create a universal, legally binding agreement with which to effectively combat climate change. A global accord where individual countries are actually held accountable to their actions is an opportunity to create environmental protocols that invest in the women leaders who are already adapting to these changes.<br /><br />For WEA and our allies around the world, we can only hope that this rare opportunity for change will not overlook women—who are critical agents in any long-term plans for our earth and future generations—and that those world leaders like Laurent Fabius will hold true to their words. Because it’s time for a protocol that doesn’t merely cap our emissions, but asks us to restructure our world to a more sustainable way of life. So let’s make a change and invest in women to invest in a sustainable future. <br /><br />___________________ <br /> Further Reading: <br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laurent-fabius/taking-climate-action-for-and-with-women_b_6819596.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laurent-fabius/taking-climate-action-for-and-with-women_b_6819596.html</a> <br /><a href="http://ecowatch.com/2015/07/06/carl-pope-paris-climate-talks/">http://ecowatch.com/2015/07/06/carl-pope-paris-climate-talks/</a> <br /><br />Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-68177485329129819092015-11-17T10:18:00.000-08:002015-11-17T15:03:32.410-08:00Why were the elephants so angry?<i>By: Katie Douglas, WEA intern</i><br /><br />In Ulhara, a village in the city of Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, India, a group of women gathered for a cluster meeting and sat in thoughtful conversation on a rising issue: <i>Why were the elephants of the forest so angry?</i><br /><br />The women questioned what had driven fourteen elephants to wreak havoc and destruction in the nearby villages where many of the women were from, leaving one man dead and destroying numerous food grains, houses and crops. The women began to share how mining projects were destroying their homes and natural resources, and causing them great mental and emotional strain. They likened this to the experience of the elephants, who were losing their homes and corridors to mining and infrastructure development.<br /><br />Ultimately, the women decided that they were not angry at the elephants. Instead, they understood the animal's anger and vulnerability as their own.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0kx7KxAUyHg/VktuSMBc-gI/AAAAAAAADnI/5p7LueE0sVI/s1600/Elephant-marks-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0kx7KxAUyHg/VktuSMBc-gI/AAAAAAAADnI/5p7LueE0sVI/s400/Elephant-marks-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The natural habitat and corridors of elephants are being lost to mining and development, and they are venturing into villages where they can cause damage to both property and life.&nbsp; Photo: CASS</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Since 2013, WEA has partnered with Chotanagpur Adivasi Seva Samiti (CASS) to develop a community development training for adivasi (indigenous) women of the Santhal tribe in eastern India. Large-scale open-cast coal mining and infrastructure development has resulted in the destruction of land, forest, and rivers. Not only are these resources the primary means of food and fuel that the Santhal women rely on for sustaining their families and communities, but these resources also contribute medicine, peace, and spiritual sustenance. With the loss of their lands and rivers, the women have become increasingly dependent upon men and outside markets, which makes this not only an issue of environmental exploitation, but also indigenous rights and gender injustice.<br /><br />In the face of environmental destruction and oppressive gender structures, these trainings provide women with different methods of support, all with the aim of helping them to exercise their rights, practice their culture, and enhance their natural resources for a future they can manage. This is facilitated through cluster groups, trainings, weekly meet-ups for female leaders, and by enrolling local girls in school. Cluster groups, like the one that met in Ulhara, are critical to the state of the community because they allow women to share stories and skills, collectively organize, and discuss basic human and forest rights. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_Nr9MqbBFY/Vktue6ErgLI/AAAAAAAADnQ/hIz-y628VCs/s1600/Ulhara-cluster-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_Nr9MqbBFY/Vktue6ErgLI/AAAAAAAADnQ/hIz-y628VCs/s400/Ulhara-cluster-03.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women gather in Ulhara village for a cluster meeting.&nbsp; Photo: CASS</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Through this training, adivasi women also share personal experiences and build bridges of commonality and support. These trainings ask the women to question what they know of gender. At one such training, Ms. Budhandi—a CASS volunteer—offered the group a song:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A group of men are sitting under the banyan tree<br /> They have listened to the sufferings of women.<br /> They are getting up and going.<br /> The women beckon them <br /> To come back and listen.</i></div><br />Discussion of songs and stories like these allow the women to sit back and view the situation through a lens that considers gender as a social construct, and that then encourages them to take their place as leaders in their communities.<br /><br />Driven by the destruction of the environment, once-sustainable communities like those near Hazaribagh have been reduced to dependent entities that are disconnected from their environment and unable to protect the rights of adivasi women. This partnership aims to provide the training, support, and networks necessary to uplift the leadership of grassroots women in some of the most impacted adivasi communities in the area, therefore promoting healing and providing safety to human and elephant alike.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--8fv-ZubwjA/VktuqLennaI/AAAAAAAADnY/dS-RFI4tuCA/s1600/Ulhara-cluster-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--8fv-ZubwjA/VktuqLennaI/AAAAAAAADnY/dS-RFI4tuCA/s400/Ulhara-cluster-04.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ulhara cluster group.&nbsp; Photo: CASS</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-5813179879559554462015-09-30T09:57:00.001-07:002015-09-30T09:57:46.669-07:00Small-scale organic farming can feed the worldIn our work, we've seen the incredible contributions women farmers continue to make in their communities when small farms and home gardens, and their caretakers, are uplifted and respected.&nbsp; This is also something we're seeing in the news more and more each day<span class="st">—</span>but it's not a new idea.&nbsp; Obviously, small farmers have known this simple truth for years, and apparently, so has the United Nations. &nbsp; <br /><br />In a 2013 report by the UN Commission on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) titled “<a href="http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ditcted2012d3_en.pdf" target="_blank">Trade and Environment Review 2013: Wake Up Before It’s Too Late</a>,” which included contributions from more than 60 experts around the world, UNCTAD urges us all to make some big changes in our agricultural practices. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mikzt3qD7nE/VgwSmmoNT7I/AAAAAAAADhM/6q0CWOKgoUg/s1600/post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mikzt3qD7nE/VgwSmmoNT7I/AAAAAAAADhM/6q0CWOKgoUg/s400/post.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption">Image: eatdrinkbetter.com</td></tr></tbody></table><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>"Even as the United States government continues to push for the use of more chemically-intensive and corporate-dominated farming methods such as GMOs and monoculture-based crops, the United Nations is once against sounding the alarm about the urgent need to return to (and develop) a more sustainable, natural and organic system."</i></blockquote>Read the full article from TECHNOLOGYWATER <a href="http://www.technologywater.com/post/69995394390/un-report-says-small-scale-organic-farming-only" target="_blank">here</a>, and the Trade and Environment Review 2013 report <a href="http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ditcted2012d3_en.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-42755292748222644492015-09-28T08:52:00.001-07:002015-09-28T08:55:41.198-07:00Weathering the Storms Together: Grassroots Women’s Response to Climate ChangeWEA <a href="http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/weathering_the_storms_together_grassroots_womens_response_to_climate_change/" target="_blank">shares our thoughts</a> on women, climate change and more in <a href="http://www.earthisland.org/journal/" target="_blank">Earth Island Journal</a>'s online edition.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://vanastree.org/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYukxgw2GJ0/VglhBco6DqI/AAAAAAAADgw/juJf53k4VYI/s400/Malnad%2BMela%2B2015%2Breport%2Bfor%2BWEA-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>"Tomorrow, September 29, is Global Women's Climate Justice Day of Action. As nations prepare for the UN COP21 climate negotiations in Paris, women across the world will tell their stories, demonstrate their solutions, and demand that our world leaders take meaningful action on climate change. As the late Dr. Wangari Maathai said, "...not only are women bearing the brunt of environmental and development setbacks — they are also a powerful source of hope in tackling climate and other environmental threats, and their voices must be heard."</i>&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>On this day of action, we have a chance to remind our global community that when we invest in women, we invest in food and economic security, community health and protection of land and our precious natural resources. Join us as we deepen the conversation: how can we powerfully stand with the leadership of grassroots women leaders who are on the forefront of struggle and transformation? Because when grassroots leaders can share best practices, access resources, and take collective action, they build a foundation that communities can stand on to weather storms together."</i></blockquote><div><br /></div><div>Read the full article <a href="http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/weathering_the_storms_together_grassroots_womens_response_to_climate_change/" target="_blank">here</a>. &nbsp;And we'd love to hear how women in your life are driving solutions to change!</div>Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-79122018043661055902015-09-24T12:39:00.001-07:002015-09-24T12:42:24.006-07:00The SDGs: Landmark achievment, or a step backward?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/sep/23/global-goals-womens-rights-pale-imitation-beijing-declaration-and-platform-for-action" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-16UOQyuE1QE/VgRP17HXIPI/AAAAAAAADf4/iFKVo2G3_OU/s400/5466.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/sep/23/global-goals-womens-rights-pale-imitation-beijing-declaration-and-platform-for-action" target="_blank">Photo by: UN</a></td></tr></tbody></table><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>"The <a class=" u-underline" data-component="in-body-link" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld">2030 agenda for sustainable development</a> is <a class=" u-underline" data-component="in-body-link" data-link-name="in body link" href="http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/post-2015/why-goal-5-matters">being hailed</a> as a landmark achievement for women’s rights and gender equality. But the adoption of the <a class=" u-underline" data-component="in-body-link" data-link-name="in body link" href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jan/19/sustainable-development-goals-united-nations">sustainable development goals</a> (SDGs) this weekend, featuring celebrity-studded side events and thousands of observers, threatens to overshadow – and perhaps even undermine – the 20th anniversary of a much more significant global agenda for women’s rights: the <a class=" u-underline" data-component="in-body-link" data-link-name="in body link" href="http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/platform/">Beijing declaration and platform for action</a>. </i><br /><br /><i>...The objectives of Beijing were consistent with a recognition of the deeply structural nature of the inequalities experienced by women. By openly challenging austerity programmes and the impact of macroeconomic policies on women, the platform acknowledged that the <a class=" u-underline" data-component="in-body-link" data-link-name="in body link" href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/oct/30/neoliberalism-approach-development-ignored-past-lessons">neoliberal, “trade not aid” model</a> of development was – and is – failing the majority of the world’s women. Despite the intervening impact of two global financial crises, <a class=" u-underline" data-component="in-body-link" data-link-name="in body link" href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/sep/21/top-incomes-drive-income-inequality-global-target">rocketing wealth inequality</a>, growing fundamentalisms, and a steadily worsening <a class=" u-underline" data-component="in-body-link" data-link-name="in body link" href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/sep/21/this-growing-migration-crisis-canary-mine-climate-change-middle-east">climate crisis</a>, the SDGs fail even to match the Beijing agreement’s level of ambition, let alone build on it to meet our current challenges." </i></blockquote><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/sep/23/global-goals-womens-rights-pale-imitation-beijing-declaration-and-platform-for-action" target="_blank">The Guardian takes a look</a> at how the Sustainable Development Goals--to be adopted this weekend in New York--measure up to previous global attempts to address a myriad of issues such as gender equality.&nbsp; Read more <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/sep/23/global-goals-womens-rights-pale-imitation-beijing-declaration-and-platform-for-action" target="_blank">here</a>.Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-17661903310750305352015-09-02T08:00:00.000-07:002015-09-03T11:19:07.216-07:00In the News: How Climate Change Impacts Women the Most<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Y9DrMqZo2I/VeY6UKwdc-I/AAAAAAAADec/DRf2tNdgzNE/s1600/india.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Y9DrMqZo2I/VeY6UKwdc-I/AAAAAAAADec/DRf2tNdgzNE/s500/india.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption">Photo by: Rucha Chitnis</td></tr></tbody></table><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>"Climate change directly impacts the ability of women to achieve their own human rights and increases gender inequalities," Eleanor Blomstrom, program director for the Women's Environment and Development Organization, told VICE News.<br /><br />Despite the greater threat to women, their needs are often neglected in sustainability planning, said Nisha Onta, a gender and climate change expert with the women's rights organization WOCAN. Under UN climate change guidelines, for example, developing countries are expected to submit plans for how they will adapt to a changing climate. But those plans are often made without incorporating plans for addressing gender inequality, like the fact that a lower-class woman in Bangladesh might not be allowed to use a new water pump, which is seen a important tool for managing changing precipitation patterns.<br /><br />"The needs and reality of women are lacking and the work of women is kind of taken as a given," Onta told VICE News. "[Developers say,] 'We will go in and we will have water, we will make water accessible.' How are you going to do that? Women are going to collect this water. Have they been consulted? Do they have time?"</i></blockquote>Read more about the differentiated impacts of climate change, and how the UN hopes to address this with it's Sustainable Development Goals in <a href="https://news.vice.com/article/how-climate-change-impacts-women-the-most" target="_blank">this great article from VICE News</a>.Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-38842501381111366882015-08-18T10:13:00.000-07:002015-09-03T11:24:19.006-07:00A Gendered Perspective: Reflections on the MDG and the potential of the SDG<i>By: Katie Douglas, WEA Intern</i> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Mr7hNnSigI/VdNkD3p-WkI/AAAAAAAADcc/dzH3jadPef8/s1600/katies%2Bmdg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Mr7hNnSigI/VdNkD3p-WkI/AAAAAAAADcc/dzH3jadPef8/s400/katies%2Bmdg.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><i>A woman closes the door behind her and sets off into the early light of dawn. It’s the pre-monsoon season in India, and the air is thick with heat as she walks to her small kitchen garden. What began as a grant of seeds, has transformed into fertile beds of earth that are all her own. From her garden she can produce crops to both feed and financially support her family. From her garden she has been able to build alliances with other local women’s collectives around the importance of organic farming and how to improve their own self-sufficiency. From her garden her future is now one of abundance and opportunity. </i><br /><br />This is our vision for the world because, we believe that when women thrive, communities thrive. When women are supported and resourced, they are able to lift their communities out of poverty, increase economic stability, and provide countries with sustainable practices to address and combat climate change. In light of this, the member states of the United Nation’s have been awarded a rare opportunity. As they reconstruct the <a href="http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/goals/">Millennium Development Goals</a> (MDG) into the <a href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?menu=1565">Sustainable Development Goals</a> (SDG) that will be adopted in September, these nations and participating NGOs have the potential for being the spark that makes the WEA vision for the world—a world where grassroots women leaders are heard, and their knowledge is honored and uplifted for the betterment of us all—a reality. <br /><br />In 2000, the eight MDG were established by the UN to target global issues identified as being some of our world’s most pressing concerns. Over the past fifteen years, great strides have been made towards accomplishing these goals. The percentage of those living in extreme poverty has been reduced nearly by half, from 1.9 billion to 836 million. More girls than ever are now enrolled in schools, and gender equality in secondary schools in 36 developing nations is no longer just an aspiration, but a shining reality. Access to clean drinking water has also seen an increase for up to 90% of the global population. But while this incredible progress represents important steps toward creating global equality, the work of the MDG isn’t finished. We cannot regard this progress as a landmark triumph while millions of people—particularly women and girls—continue to face severe poverty, basic human rights insecurity and deep inequity.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45308#.VdNmlEWrzkB" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45308#.VdNmlEWrzkB" border="0" height="260" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_aiLVzqA2o/VdNkozUo0mI/AAAAAAAADco/ymNcN6ylkgM/s400/07-01-mdgs-07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />In this way, the MDG have come up short in shedding light on the intersectionality of the original goals, especially with regard to gender. In the final progress report the Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki Moon, noted that of all the goals, gender equality and woman’s health were the most neglected. Even with an advanced education women around the world continue to earn 24% less than men. Less than 20% of government leaders in the world are women. And women in developing nations are fourteen times as likely to die as women in developed nations. When we look at this reality, we can clearly see how issues of climate change, food security, and environmental degradation continue—these are interconnected challenges existing in an ecosystem that is our world, and one challenge cannot be addressed while ignoring another. <br /><br />Come September, all countries that participated in the MDG must re-evaluate and submit new goals, which will become the SDG. Of the seventeen SDG declared so far, one goal directly focuses on women, while many others have the potential to impact gender in positive and critical ways. Goal #5, the aim of achieving gender equality and empowering all girls and women, is only one of many and yet impacts almost every other issue at stake. In fact, a <a href="http://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/post-2015-consensus">2014 study by the Copenhagen Consensus Center</a> providing guidance on which of the drafted SDG targets were the best investments rated those aimed at gender equality among the highest. Still, many governments fail to invest in the leadership and capacity-building of women, they fail to increase resources to address violence against women or to ensure access to reproductive health care, and they fail to recognize the disproportionate financial and environmental burden women bear as food producers and providers, community caretakers, and natural resource stewards. The global success of women represents our greatest hope for a reconciled world, and this is something that must be taken seriously by the SDG and world nations. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.un.org.me/news/1207/127/MEET-THE-PROPOSED-SUSTAINABLE-DEVELOPMENT-GOALS" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.un.org.me/news/1207/127/MEET-THE-PROPOSED-SUSTAINABLE-DEVELOPMENT-GOALS" border="0" height="197" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u09Mb4rh4M4/VdNlzfA-N7I/AAAAAAAADc0/niBgqKEdhRA/s400/SDGs.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />The Millennium Development Goals gave us a glimpse of a world where change is possible. Through WEA’s vision of recognizing essential women’s rights, and building global networks of empowered female leaders, <a href="http://graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/48052-sustainable-development-agenda-2030-presents-a-bold-vision-for-women-girls.html" target="_blank">the Sustainable Development Goals have the potential</a> to create a world where change truly is sustainable. <br /><br /><br />************************<br />Further Reading <br /><a href="http://iwhc.org/resource/10-red-flags-for-the-zero-draft-of-the-post-2015-development-agenda/">http://iwhc.org/resource/10-red-flags-for-the-zero-draft-of-the-post-2015-development-agenda/</a> <br /><a href="http://www.refinery29.com/2015/07/90279/united-nations-goals-report-gender-equality">http://www.refinery29.com/2015/07/90279/united-nations-goals-report-gender-equality</a> <br /><br />Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-67224430122268972692015-08-11T09:55:00.000-07:002015-09-03T11:24:19.012-07:00Everything Connnected to the Land is Connected to our BodiesThe links between land and body have never been more apparent than in recent years, with extractive industries drilling, mining and fracking lands on or near traditional Indigenous territories, providing economic benefits to transnational corporations and national economies at a cost impacted communities are still grappling to understand. A cost most deeply felt by Indigenous women and young people.<br /><br />This is why WEA is currently working in partnership with <a href="http://www.nativeyouthsexualhealth.com/environmentalviolenceandreproductivejustice.html" target="_blank">Native Youth Sexual Health Network</a> (NYSHN) to explore this critical intersection and ways to support the leadership of young Indigenous women who are resisting environmental violence in their communities.<br /><br />To learn more about this work, please visit our <a href="http://www.womensearthalliance.org/section.php?id=200" target="_blank">website</a>.<br /><br />This beautiful piece was done by WEA Intern, Katie Douglas, for WEA's initiative on environmental violence.<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QXFh1Myjio8/Vcoma_-buHI/AAAAAAAADa0/pyiY5Y8IjBo/s1600/Violence_on_Our_Earth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QXFh1Myjio8/Vcoma_-buHI/AAAAAAAADa0/pyiY5Y8IjBo/s640/Violence_on_Our_Earth.png" width="442" /></a>&nbsp;</div>From the artist: <i>Each day that I spend interning at WEA teaches me more on the intersectionality that binds women’s rights, indigenous communities, and the environment. While the natural symmetry of these three elements is beautiful, the reality of their existence in our world is often one of destruction and injustice. As the greed of industry spreads, it is impossible not to see the direct correlation between detrimental environmental practices and their impacts on women with regard to health, culture, and actions of violence. From this, I was inspired to create an image that could begin to express humanity’s violation of the Earth as a parallel to humanity’s violation of the women’s bodies. <br /><br /> The open copper pit mine of the her belly shows that humanity is not only extracting Earth’s resources, but also that by plundering straight from her womb we are destroying any chance of future life. An oil well symbolizes the pollution that degrades the environment of so many native communities, while the flag is a symbol of the widespread domination of the Earth, indigenous peoples and women. Deforestation and waste are represented by the stump and can, and placed on her breasts to show our extreme dependence on these non-renewable resources. Despite the bleak outlook of the image, the ball of light in her hand represents my feeling of hope. Because if WEA has taught me anything, it is to trust to in the immense and impenetrable power that women hold in our hands to change this world for the better. </i>Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-37849566946818702122015-07-14T11:53:00.000-07:002015-09-03T11:24:19.000-07:00Pope Francis’ Encyclical: A Message of Hope for the Earth, but Where are the Women?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2_BzZ4T4fxw/VaVS9hCgHPI/AAAAAAAAC_E/fSiibSausFk/s1600/popeimag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2_BzZ4T4fxw/VaVS9hCgHPI/AAAAAAAAC_E/fSiibSausFk/s320/popeimag.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>By: Katie Douglas, WEA Intern</i> <br /><br />“Laudato Si” or “Praised Be to You”, Pope Francis’ recently released <a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html" target="_blank">environmental encyclical</a>, details how the collective actions of people are responsible for the irreversible degradation of our Earth. Subtitled “Care for Our Common Home”, the encyclical speaks boldly to the need for change to the structural injustices that drive environmental devastation. However, as the many years of WEA’s work has shown us, <b>the Pope fails to identify one of the most prevalent social injustices that directly links to climate change: gender inequality</b>. The question we—as women, as allies, as actors in our global community—are left with, then, is: <i>how can humanity care for the planet while half of our population continues to fight for an equal position in ‘our common home’?&nbsp;</i><br /><br />In general, the encyclical takes an important stance as it calls for people to accept our role in and impact on the degradation of the Earth. This has been the most controversial point of the statement across religious and political spheres, with Pope Francis calling out the unrestricted rights of human “dominion”. He states that being created in God’s image does not give humanity justification for the domination of other beings, and such “dominion theory” has only encouraged the destructive exploitation of the natural world. Our greed, he says, has led to an alteration of the Earth’s natural cycles, resources and productive capabilities. To find solutions, Pope Francis stresses the need to bring impoverished and Indigenous voices to the center of environmental discussions. This is a critical steps since, as we have learned from our partners, these communities already face the damaging impacts of climate change in acute ways, even though they’re often not the drivers of this destruction.<br /><br />What this landmark statement doesn’t do is highlight the fact that even within these communities, women are typically those most disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation due to their roles as mothers, food providers, and community caretakers. However, despite this overall lack attention paid to gender issues and impacts, the Pope does acknowledge that, "This sister [Mother Earth] now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse.... We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will." As we read this, we are reminded of the direct link between the body of the Earth and our bodies as women. The violence to Mother Earth that Pope Francis talks about is seen reflected in the violence experienced by women through climate change, pollution and natural resource development. At WEA, this is one of many reasons we are committed to supporting grassroots women around the world who intimately understand the interconnectedness of our place in this world as both women and stewards of the Earth, who draw strength and wisdom from our relationship with Mother Earth, and who are stepping forward and leading our communities toward a future where we co-exist in equality with one another, and in reverence of the Earth.<br /><br />Gender equality must become recognized as a central point to the environmental movement, especially in a world where women living in poverty are the demographic most affected by the effects of our actions. <b>While we applaud Pope Francis for taking this important first step in directing humanity’s attention to our historically negative impact on the environment, and for boldly calling for change where it is so very necessary, we stand firm in the knowledge that respect for our Earth and respect for women are undeniably linked.&nbsp; </b>We must understand this simple truth: we cannot have one without the other. <br /><br />__________________________________<br />Further reading:<br /><a href="https://wecaninternational.wordpress.com/2015/06/22/mother-earth-cries-out-we-must-listen-reflecting-on-pope-francis-encyclical-on-the-environment/" target="_blank">Mother Earth Cries Out &amp; We Must Listen and Act Boldly--Reflecting on Pope Francis's Encyclical on the Environment</a> <br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-dr-susan-brooks-thistlethwaite/sister-earth-cries-out-di_b_7613262.html" target="_blank">"Sister Earth Cries Out": Did Pope Francis Just Proclaim an Eco-Feminist Theology?</a><br /><br />Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-36112451825536182432015-07-07T10:42:00.001-07:002015-09-03T12:04:22.293-07:00Meet Our Summer Intern!We love summer for so many reasons.&nbsp; It's the time of year when seeds planted in the spring blossom, bloom and grow strong, and it's a time to prepare for the warm gatherings and occasions for sharing that seem to characterize the fall.&nbsp; At WEA, the summer is when we tend partnerships, plan for celebrations to come, and welcome in the amazing interns we've been fortunate enough to work with in summers passed.<br /><br />This summer is no different, and we're so thrilled to welcome Katie to the team here in Berkeley for her summer break. Meet Katie below! <br /><br /><b>KATIE DOUGLAS</b> <span class="st">— </span>General Office &amp; Research Intern<b>&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IlXj8P9t0Zg/VZwOZBRlBmI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/z1OZugbW5kc/s1600/katie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IlXj8P9t0Zg/VZwOZBRlBmI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/z1OZugbW5kc/s320/katie.jpg" width="162" /></a></div><b>1. Tell us about yourself </b><b><span class="st">—</span> your background/journey to WEA.&nbsp; </b>I’m a student at Brandeis University in Boston, and heading into my senior year with majors in Environmental Studies and Anthropology. I attribute my love of the natural world to my parents for introducing me to redwood trees and blue-bellied lizards. During college I became heavily involved with the organization <a href="http://www.halftheskymovement.org/" target="_blank">Half the Sky</a>, and was incredibly moved by their work in providing access to education for girls across the globe. When I stumbled onto WEA I was amazed to find an organization that seemed to perfectly address the intersection of my interests in women’s rights, the environment, and the traditional knowledge of indigenous communities. <br /><br /><b>2. What do you do at WEA?</b>&nbsp; I’m a General Office Intern so I mainly support Kahea with general administration tasks, such as filing and managing the donor base. Additionally I research ongoing environmental developments for women, and assist with current campaigns. <br /><b><br />3. Share 2 unique/fun/crazy/weird things about you that your co-workers do not know!&nbsp;</b> I worked on a farm for several summers, and seriously considered taking a baby goat home with me because I’m obsessed with goats. I have a secret skill for building camp fires. <br /><br /><b>4. What do you see as the biggest challenge in the intersections of women, indigenous issues and the environment?</b>&nbsp; I think that the mainstream western environmental movement can be very ignorant to what an integral role women and indigenous persons play in the protection of the environment. While I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with the preservation of land, or the legal protection of endangered species, I think that the environmental movement can forget that millions of people around the world are already facing the direct consequences of climate change. Therefore their experiences make them experts on the current effects of climate change, and place them at the most important locations to develop sustainable change with equal access to resources and community training. <br /><b><br /> 5. Tell us about a woman who inspires you and why.&nbsp;</b> Sheryl WuDunn, the co-author of Half the Sky, is one of my biggest inspirations. She has broken so many barriers as a reporter, an educator on women’s rights, and a modern leader. Her work on the direct links from women’s education to a country’s economic prosperity, resource management, and levels of poverty has always reminded me how integral women are to the state of our world. <br /><br /><b>6. Tell us one thing that surprised you at WEA.</b>&nbsp; WEA is such a close-knit and welcoming community, and everyone made me feel so comfortable on my first day. I was really surprised by how small WEA is, but all these women have accomplished so much. And there are always so many kinds of tea in the office, which is awesome! <br /><b><br />7. What do you hope to get out of your time at WEA?</b>&nbsp; I hope to be continuously learning about current global developments and issues that deal with the intersection of women’s rights, the environment, and indigenous rights. I’m also hoping to gain a greater understanding of how non-profits like WEA function, and get to know an amazing group of women leaders. <br /><br /><br /><i>Meet the rest of the talented interns that have worked with WEA throughout the years <a href="http://womensearthalliance.blogspot.com/search/label/interns"><b>here</b></a>!</i> Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-72807313829961323542015-05-08T11:09:00.000-07:002015-09-03T11:25:06.108-07:00A Mother's Day Call to Protect the Earth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>This Sunday is the day of the mother, the day we honor the source of life.</b>&nbsp; As we give thanks for our very existence, for all the nurturing and resources our mothers provide for us so that we may grow and thrive, we also celebrate our shared mother<span class="st">—the Earth itself.&nbsp; Without her flowing waters, warm sun, rich soil and fresh air, even our most advanced technologies wouldn't be able to sustain our collective life here.</span><br /><span class="st"><br /></span><span class="st">It feels like just yesterday that WEA's Co-Directors, Melinda and Amira, were both becoming new mothers</span><span class="st">—and then mothers once more!&nbsp; But today, they each have two sons, all under the age of three, and it's taken us just a moment to realize how quickly time has flown.</span><br /><span class="st"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wwcHYLJb1rQ/VUz6LgMY9rI/AAAAAAAACmA/ND0vZMb1aVU/s1600/foto4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wwcHYLJb1rQ/VUz6LgMY9rI/AAAAAAAACmA/ND0vZMb1aVU/s320/foto4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">&nbsp;The women of RENAMITT.&nbsp; Photo by: <a href="http://semillas.org.mx/index.php?lang=es" target="_blank">Semillas</a>, a partner of WEA</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span class="st">At its heart, our work here at WEA has always been about nurturing women at the grassroots</span></b><span class="st"><b>—honoring and uplifting the work of women and community caregivers around the world who are mothering children and mothering movements.&nbsp;</b> We do this because we recognize the undeniable connection between our experiences as women</span><span class="st">—as mothers</span><span class="st">—and the experiences of our first mother, our shared planet earth.</span><br /><span class="st"><br /></span><span class="st">Last week, WEA had the opportunity to attend the Indigenous Birthways convening at the <a href="http://birthkeepersummit.com/" target="_blank">BirthKeepers Summit</a> here in Berkeley, CA.&nbsp; There, we heard Mohawk elder and midwife, Katsi Cook, speak about these links, and her wisdom is reflected in her <a href="http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2003/12/23/cook-women-are-first-environment-89746" target="_blank">written work</a>.&nbsp; "<b>Women are the first environment</b>," she teaches.&nbsp; "We are privileged to be the doorway to life.&nbsp; At the breast of women, the generations are nourished and sustained.&nbsp; From the bodies of women flow the relationship of these generations both to society and to the natural world.&nbsp; In this way is the earth our mother, the old people said.&nbsp; In this way, we as women are earth."</span><br /><span class="st"><br /></span><span class="st">Our <a href="http://www.womensearthalliance.org/section.php?id=157" target="_blank">grassroots partners</a> around the world remind us of the truth in these words.&nbsp; In India, the traditional knowledge women hold of seed saving, home gardens and climate adaptation help rural communities usher in locally-centered and sustainable futures.&nbsp; And in North America, young Indigenous women leaders resisting environmental violence bear witness to the simple truth that everything connected to the land is connected to our bodies.</span><br /><span class="st"><br /></span><b><span class="st">These fierce women are birthing transformation, not only in their communities, but in the world.&nbsp; WEA is committed to standing alongside these leaders as they do the essential work of safeguarding our environment and generations to come.</span></b><br /><span class="st"><br /></span><span class="st"><b>This Mother's Day, please consider <a href="https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=2873ab" target="_blank">making a tax-deductible gift in honor of Mother Earth</a></b> and the amazing mothers in your world.&nbsp; Your contribution will help us to continue supporting grassroots women today who are stepping forward to demand clean water and healthy food, protect sacred lands and traditional knowledge, resist dirty energy that harms our lands and bodies, and design sustainable solutions.</span><br /><span class="st"><br /></span><span class="st">Most of all, we invite you to take a moment today to stand on the earth, give thanks for all that she provides, and make a commitment to protect her, for the sake of future generations and all life.</span><br /><span class="st"><br /></span><span class="st">We wish you a peaceful Mother's Day.</span><br /><span class="st"><br /></span></div>Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-36310057746097641182014-11-26T10:42:00.000-08:002015-09-03T11:24:55.017-07:00Meet our Fall Interns!As we all shut down our computers and close our office doors to get ready for the holiday weekend, we at WEA are once again reminded of how so much of our work would not be possible without the support of our rockstar team of interns.&nbsp; So to kick off our gratitude-sharing festivities, we're sending warm hugs and tons of thanks to these ladies!<br /><br />Thank you both for all the energy you're bringing to your time with us!<br /><br />And we hope everyone has some time this weekend to take a moment, give thanks for one another and the planet we live on, and do a little something to show that appreciation to the world.<b>&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>REBECCA OLSON – General Office and Research Intern </b><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBka4cNCT_s/VHYZllvpjzI/AAAAAAAACUc/yy3jwlahR6M/s1600/rebecca.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBka4cNCT_s/VHYZllvpjzI/AAAAAAAACUc/yy3jwlahR6M/s1600/rebecca.jpeg" width="187" /></a><b>1. Tell us about yourself – Background / Journey to WEA.</b>&nbsp; I grew near the Blue Ridge Mountains in West Virginia and moved to Northern California a few years ago, where I managed an inn for several years and took community college classes. Now I am finishing my bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at UC Berkeley with a self-designed research focus on feminist perspectives in international relations, considering how traits traditionally associated with femininity and marginalized in the political sphere could contribute to policies that support a more sustainable and equitable international system. In my research, I focus on the experience of women and marginalized groups. I've always worked while in college, but starting this summer I took a leap of faith and decided to prioritize valuable learning experience over income-earning, mainly because I wanted to start learning firsthand about the issues that are close to my heart. I spent the summer volunteering for an international organization based in Rome that supports sustainable forestry and agriculture. Then I found Women's Earth Alliance through an Internet search and joined the WEA team this fall. <br /><b><br /> 2. What do you do at WEA?</b>&nbsp; I help with general office tasks and donor support. I am also researching the effects of energy development projects on Native U.S. and Canadian women's reproductive health, as well as its connections to violence against Native women, and I'm excited to contribute a few blog posts in the coming weeks as I learn more about these issues.<br /><b><br /> 3. Share 2 unique/fun/crazy/weird things about you that your co-workers do not know!</b>&nbsp; I used to volunteer at a monkey sanctuary in Maryland, and I just started learning Argentine Tango. <br /><br /><b>4. What do you see as the biggest challenge in the intersections of women, indigenous issues and the environment?</b>&nbsp; One major challenge is grappling with our economic mindset that prioritizes short-term income or profits over long-term prosperity. Also, I think that our conventional understanding of economics needs to expand to include those things that truly contribute to human well-being, such as healthy relationships with each other and with the planet. Treating the earth like a commodity is obviously not sustainable. Additionally, I think that development projects will tend to replicate or even exacerbate existing inequalities in society unless they are rigorously examined and take into account the concerns of all those who will be effected.<br /><br /><b>5. Tell us about a woman who inspires you and why.&nbsp; </b> Vandana Shiva, for her activism to preserve biodiversity and to support the work of women farmers. Many times I struggle with how to effect positive change in the world. I see Shiva's work as focusing on the regeneration of life, building life from the roots (in communities and working with small farmers), rather than coming down from the top with some big revolutionary idea.<br /><br /><b>6. Tell us one thing that surprised you at WEA.</b> &nbsp; On my first day, I was told that I could take the initiative in projects that I'm working on. I said, "Oh, you mean if I want to do something differently I should check with you first?" She clarified that I can just go ahead. I'm still getting used to this approach, and find that it makes me feel energized and excited about the projects I'm working on.<br /><br /><b>7. What do you hope to get out of your time at WEA?</b>&nbsp; I hope to learn about specific effects of environmental damage on the bodies and lives of Indigenous women and communities, and to learn about what these women are doing to stand up for themselves and protect their bodies, families, and communities. I am already learning so much, and wondering why I haven't seen more stories about these issues in the mainstream media. I hope to be able to share what I learn with family, friends, and others who I know. <br /><br /><br /><b>KATALINA TORRES-GARCIA – General Office and Research Intern </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ByeYUwZOcrs/VHYezOk8EuI/AAAAAAAACUs/CqyzSgCrqnQ/s1600/kati.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ByeYUwZOcrs/VHYezOk8EuI/AAAAAAAACUs/CqyzSgCrqnQ/s1600/kati.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><b>1. Tell us about yourself – Background / Journey to WEA.&nbsp; </b> I grew up near Los Angeles and moved up to the Bay Area to attend UC Berkeley where I’m finishing my bachelor’s degree in Psychology. When I saw there was an opening at WEA I jumped at it. WEA’s work focuses on the subjects I am most passionate about. <br /><br /><b>2. What do you do at WEA?</b>&nbsp; I’m the general office and research intern. I update and input donations and information into WEA’s databases, transcribe testimonies, help cultivate donor support and correspondence and assist with anything else the team needs help with! <br /><br /><b>3. Share 2 unique/fun/crazy/weird things about you that your co-workers do not know!</b>&nbsp; I’m really fond of dogs, so much so that my attention span is temporarily suspended if I see one and I’ll only really be thinking, "Must pet dog..." When I’m not thinking about dogs I’m probably thinking about food, or traveling to different countries to eat food. <br /><br /><b>4. What do you see as the biggest challenge in the intersections of women, indigenous issues and the environment?</b>&nbsp; I see the biggest challenge in the intersections of women, indigenous issues and the environment as changing the embedded patriarchy within our systems. This challenge is exacerbated when corporations have their hands in environmental issues fueling injustices and are neglecting human rights. To create an environmentally sustainable future it’s necessary for women have agency over the environment that shapes their lives. <br /><br /><b>5. Tell us about a woman who inspires you and why.</b>&nbsp; Many women inspire me, but my mom is always who comes to mind first. She set the standards of equality for my life, and I'm thankful because now I won't settle for anything less. She encouraged me to learn and to question and to not hold back my voice or opinions.<br /><b><br /> 6. Tell us one thing that surprised you at WEA.&nbsp; </b> One thing that surprised me at WEA is the volume of new information I am exposed to. Before I began I felt relatively informed, but after just my first couple of days I learned about issues that I knew little about and will never forget. <br /><br /><b>7. What do you hope to get out of your time at WEA?</b> Throughout my time here at WEA, I hope to get practice and knowledge about how a non-profit operates to move forward and continue to work to improve the environment and lives of women, including my own. I look forward to learning and seeing how when we women connect to share knowledge and resources, change can occur on small scale to become widespread. <br /><br /><br /><i>Meet the rest of the talented interns that have worked with WEA throughout the years <a href="http://womensearthalliance.blogspot.com/search/label/interns">here</a>!</i>Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-53764579911407575302014-08-28T13:59:00.000-07:002015-09-03T11:19:07.328-07:00WEA Grassroots Partner Celebrated as "Woman Warrior"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Check out this great article on grassroots women&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">warriors--including a WEA partner!--who are protecting their lands and communities against #environmental&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">destruction.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Suryamani Bhagat is a brave forest activist and #Indigenous&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">leader of</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">&nbsp;the Jharkhand Save the Forest Movement in #India, and has mobilized a forest watch committee to stop illegal forest&nbsp;destruction in her state.<br /><br />WEA partnered with Jharkhand Save the Forest Movement, part of the Bindrai Institute of Research Study and Action, over the last year to support their efforts to enhance decision-making power of adivasi women, who are crucial custodians of forests and #biodiversity.</span><br /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/09/women-warriors-take-environmental-protection-their-own-hands"><img border="0" height="167" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JqbpyTqf3RQ/VBINURDqfMI/AAAAAAAAAAc/KFX5zK04a54/s1600/women_ips.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>Kelseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-56084152026517791432014-08-27T14:02:00.000-07:002015-09-03T11:28:03.055-07:00WEA's New Partnership to Address Environmental Violence<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">We are so proud to be in partnership with&nbsp;</span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=154777717651" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Native-Youth-Sexual-Health-Network/154777717651" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">The Native Youth Sexual Health Network</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">&nbsp;on a community-based research and advocacy initiative to address the environmental violence Indigenous women&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">and&nbsp; youth&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">face as a result of extreme extraction.</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /><br />Everything that impacts the land in turn impacts our bodies.<br /><br />Visit the link below to learn more about this initiative, how it aims to address the impacts of&nbsp;extractive industries&nbsp;on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of Indigenous communities, how you can get involved or share your knowledge, or other ways you can support.</span><br /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.womensearthalliance.org/section.php?id=200"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oLcw5TMCc68/VBIONofNh7I/AAAAAAAAAAo/PStngLnkszA/s1600/safe_image-1.php.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>Kelseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-16048261008268770712014-08-26T18:26:00.000-07:002015-09-03T11:18:11.573-07:00Happy Women's Equality Day!<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Happy Women's Equality Day</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">&nbsp;here in the U.S.! While this day commemorates the passage of women's right to vote, here at WEA, women's equality</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">&nbsp;also means honoring the knowledge, expertise and leadership of grassroots women&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">around the world who are standing strong for our communities, environment&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">and futures.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">What does Women's Equality Day mean to you?</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/womensearthalliance/photos/a.135273676510801.42370.129064750465027/772255059479323/?type=1&amp;theater"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lK5Bs4Eg7vY/VBOdv28sTmI/AAAAAAAAACU/XFLIbVRMGNo/s1600/10606185_772255059479323_7704259417654348766_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>Kelseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-53353477253791714282014-08-15T14:07:00.000-07:002015-09-03T11:30:48.775-07:00Benefit Concert to Support the Winnemem Wintu Tribe and their Efforts<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Where will you be tomorrow night?</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Please join us at the&nbsp;</span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=116026285125404" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eastside-Arts-Alliance/116026285125404" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">Eastside Arts Alliance</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">&nbsp;in Oakland, CA for Wintu Ch'aawa, a benefit&nbsp;concert&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">to honor and support the&nbsp;</span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=96167065518" href="https://www.facebook.com/winnememwintu" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">Winnemem Wintu Tribe</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">&nbsp;as they continue their efforts to protect their culture, life</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">ways, and sacred lands from the Shasta Dam raise. The evening will feature Redstar, Michael Preston, Almas Fronterizas, an art auction and surprise guests!<br /><br />WEA, along with&nbsp;<a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=437263219690286" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Idle-No-More-Hawai%CA%BBi/437263219690286" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Idle No More Hawaiʻi</a>&nbsp;and Warriors Rising, is proud to be among the organizations and individuals co-sponsoring this event.<br /><br />Please share far and wide, and we hope to see you there!</span><br /><br /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Ticket are $15 sliding scale. Space is limited, so buy your tickets soon, and thank you in advance for your support!<br /><br />For more information: g.daniel.rodriguez@gmail.com</span><br /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1477863075788263/"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7SRTe4QeAw8/VBIPNsxvLGI/AAAAAAAAAA4/1NFotcQawxo/s1600/10538054_610603962371154_8310671024508277323_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>Kelseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-8890578753517733852014-07-17T14:38:00.000-07:002015-09-03T11:31:19.271-07:00WEA Partnership with GREEN Foundation Supports Women Farmers in Karnataka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">In India</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">, climate change</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">, the steady degradation of natural resources, as well as political and social unrest and inequity</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">, has severely affected the lives of millions of rural poor</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">—a majority of which are women</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">—who depend on natural re</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">sources for their livelihoods. These barriers help to make women and&nbsp;girls&nbsp;more vulnerable to societal and health dangers, and reinforces patriarchal practices that deny them access to arenas where decisions affecting them are made.<br /><br />That's why WEA was thrilled to partner with <a href="http://www.greenconserve.com/">GREEN Foundation</a> last year to recognize the knowledge and expertise of women farmers to promote food security&nbsp;and build community resiliency. Through this partnership and GREEN Foundations amazing efforts on the ground, women farmers in Karnataka were mentored, trained and supported as they shared and built their skills in sustainable agriculture, seed saving, income generation, community organizing, and leadership around climate adaptation.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/womensearthalliance/photos/a.135273676510801.42370.129064750465027/753396838031812/?type=1&amp;theater"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zdwwdUmYCbQ/VBIWuZUhcCI/AAAAAAAAAB8/EI7uu0cXhFY/s1600/10482143_753396838031812_4102587655284649674_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>Kelseynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002020124168362572.post-39979823585847611542014-07-10T08:00:00.000-07:002015-09-03T11:27:00.447-07:00Meet Our Summer Intern!<i><b>We don't know what we'd do without all the wonderful interns who have given of themselves to support our work over the past few years.</b></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's why we're so excited to introduce you to the amazing intern working with us here in Berkeley this summer!&nbsp; She's a rockstar, and we feel so lucky to have her on board!&nbsp; If you're in the Bay Area, come by and say hi to Kelsey and the rest of the team!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>KELSEY RILEY</b> – General Intern</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lDancKnO0dk/U72VvhTCqeI/AAAAAAAACDA/dVPtlX8CJDw/s1600/Kelsey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lDancKnO0dk/U72VvhTCqeI/AAAAAAAACDA/dVPtlX8CJDw/s1600/Kelsey.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>1. Tell us about yourself – Background / Journey to WEA.</b>&nbsp; Born and raised in the Bay Area, I have always appreciated the incredible amount of cultural and environmental diversity Northern California has to offer. Even as a child, I knew that I was incredibly lucky to live in such an amazing area with countless opportunities. I grew up volunteering at school events and summer camps, and it has always been my passion to give back to my community. Here in Berkeley I volunteer through a mental health awareness org, as well as a homeless shelter for youth ages 18-25.<br /><br />I just finished my second year at UC Berkeley and I am majoring in Gender and Women’s Studies. A good friend of mine interned with WEA previously and after I heard about her experiences, I knew I had to get involved! <br /><br /><b>2. What do you do at WEA?&nbsp; </b>Generally I help with daily operations, whether it be logging donations or writing thank-you cards to our generous donors. In addition I have been working on some graphics to add to WEA’s social media pages, as well as doing research on the Alberta tar sands and their impact on indigenous women and their communities.<br /><br /><b>3. Share 2 unique/fun/crazy/weird things about you that your co-workers do not know! </b>I enjoy the movie Napoleon Dynamite a little too much! I won a pig-calling contest when I was seven… I am strangely proud of this accomplishment.<br /><br /><b>4. What do you see as the biggest challenge in the intersections of women, indigenous issues and the environment?&nbsp; </b>I think that at times it can be difficult to examine the intersectionality between these categories because they each have issues within themselves. We must be able to look at these intersections critically and search for ways in which they bring different identities together in order to make sense of these complex challenges and find ways to actively work on them.<br /><br /><b>5. Tell us about a woman who inspires you and why.&nbsp; </b>Emma Thompson. Other than being an Oscar-winning actress and screenwriter, she supports anti-poverty agency ActionAid, is the chair of human rights organization The Helen Bamber Foundation, and works to raise awareness of human trafficking. I deeply admire both her work in film and her philanthropy.<br /><br /><b>6. Tell us one thing that surprised you at WEA.&nbsp; </b>How such a small group of individuals can make such an impact in so many ways. WEA is a living, breathing example of women supporting women in a way that brings individuals of all experiences together to empower one another. WEA encourages women to continue being successful leaders within their communities.<br /><br /><b>7. What do you hope to get out of your time at WEA?&nbsp; </b>I hope to learn more about the intersections between women and environmental issues, and how women can work together to make differences both in their communities and on a more global scale. I also hope to contribute to hands-on, creative projects that assist the social media presence of WEA as an organization.<br /><br /><i>Meet the rest of the talented interns that have worked with WEA throughout the years <a href="http://womensearthalliance.blogspot.com/search/label/interns"><b>here</b></a>!</i> Kaheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01313122854220280522noreply@blogger.com0